Buying Guide
In short
A good humidor is lined with Spanish cedar, closes tightly and already includes a hygrometer and a humidifier. For a first humidor, a model holding 20 to 25 cigars is the right size. What decides quality is the lining and the fit of the lid — not the capacity.
The most important part of a humidor is the wood you never see. Spanish cedar, also called Cedro, absorbs moisture and releases it again. It buffers every swing in room climate, keeps tobacco pests away and gives cigars a fine, spicy aroma over the months.
Make sure the entire interior is lined — floor, walls and the inside of the lid. Boxes that carry cedar only on the floor and show lacquered plywood on the sides hold their climate far less well.
A humidor is only as good as the fit of its lid. The simplest test uses a sheet of paper: lay it across the rim, close the lid and pull. You should feel clear resistance. If the paper slides out without friction, moisture escapes in the same place.
The second test is sound. A well-made lid closes with a full, muffled note — not a bright rattle.
A humidor should be well filled. A lot of air inside means a lot of volume to humidify, and that means larger swings. As a rule of thumb, buy for the collection you will have in six months — not the one you dream about.
| Occasional, a few cigars | up to 25 cigars |
| Regular, a standing selection | 50 to 100 cigars |
| Collection with ageing | 150 cigars and up |
For most enthusiasts a humidor for 20 to 25 cigars is the right choice. It can be filled without stock sitting too long, and it fits on any sideboard.
Analogue hygrometers look the part and work without a battery, but by design they can deviate by up to five percentage points. That is uncritical as long as you read the value as guidance rather than as a measurement log: no cigar notices whether the dial says 68 or 71 per cent.
Digital hygrometers measure more precisely and usually show temperature as well. If you like exact numbers, add one later for a few euros — the humidor itself does not get better for it.
Three systems are common. Polymer crystals take up distilled water and release it slowly; they are low-maintenance and fitted in most good humidors. Sponge humidifiers are the simplest design but tend towards bacteria if not kept clean. Two-way systems such as Boveda regulate to a fixed value and even reabsorb excess moisture — the most precise solution, though one you keep buying.
One rule applies to all three: use distilled water only. Tap water brings limescale and germs into the humidor.
A complete set saves you three follow-up orders. Look for a cigar cutter, a humidifier, a hygrometer, a divider for separating compartments and a cloth for the surface. With the cutter, insist on stainless steel: blades of coated sheet metal lose their edge quickly and fray the wrapper.
The Tobacor Humidor Classic is fully lined with Spanish cedar, holds around 20 to 25 cigars and measures 26 × 22 × 6.5 cm. It is made by hand, finished in high-gloss root wood optics and carries a glass window in the lid.
It ships with a stainless steel cigar cutter engraved with the Tobacor logo, a humidifier with a gold-toned stainless steel lid, an analogue hygrometer, a divider, a cleaning cloth and the manual — packed in a black gift box. The price is €59.90 on Amazon.de.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-21
Handcrafted, lined with Spanish cedar, room for around 20 to 25 cigars. With hygrometer, humidifier, stainless steel cutter and gift box.
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Solid entry-level models with cedar lining, hygrometer and humidifier start at roughly 50 to 80 euros. The Tobacor Humidor Classic is €59.90 on Amazon.de. There is no upper limit: cabinet humidors with electronic control quickly reach four figures.
A humidor for 20 to 25 cigars suits most beginners. It is easy to fill, and a full humidor holds its climate far more steadily than a half-empty one.
For the interior lining, yes. Spanish cedar (Cedro) regulates humidity better than other woods, protects against tobacco pests and lends cigars their characteristic aroma. For the exterior, the material only matters visually.
By the fit of the lid. If a sheet of paper slides out without resistance or the lid rattles brightly, it does not seal. Other warning signs are visible glue residue, untreated edges inside and an interior that is only partly lined with cedar.